For George Hall, the path to madness begins with one ordinary and completely unremarkable day: when he discovers a suspicious spot on his skin. At fifty-seven, George has already retired and, it would seem, is worth waiting for a calm and measured life. However, not everything is smooth: rebellious daughter Katie announces her wedding to Ray, a man who is absolutely not suitable for her, his wife is having an affair with George's former colleague, and son Jamie is in a relationship with a man. Absolutely certain that the spot on his leg is cancer, George finds himself on death's door. With each passing day, he becomes more and more aware of the futility and transience of existence. The fracture of the fragile human psyche occurs gradually, and Mark Haddon, with effortless grace, leads the reader deeper and deeper into the lost consciousness of the hero.